Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Beyond The Hub All Stars

All Stars (2013) U

Barrowman stubbles up
for his role in the street dance movie!

Reviewed
by DJ Forrest

One of the wonderful
things about Netflix is that I actually get to watch more television, dramas
and shows and serials I may never watch any other time, and also gives me the
opportunity to sit down and watch a wide selection of movies I’d normally have
to save up a massive fortune for on Blu-Ray.

All Stars is about a
youth centre called the ‘Garage’ run by Gina (Ashley Jensen). It’s a place where kids can go to feel safe
and have fun which is something Jensen’s character says at the Council meeting,
when she begs the officials to have a change of heart over the demolition proposal
on the centre. An unscrupulous council
official wants to flatten the ‘Garage in order to build a car park that will
generate more income for the council.

Ethan (Theo Stephenson)
wants to impress a girl who is completely out of his league, and suggests to
Jayden (Akai) that they put a dance group together. Two ballroom dancers from a
posh school Tim (Dominic Herman-Day) and Amy (Fleur Houdijk) who learn to
loosen up and mix ballroom with street dance, Brian (Gamal Toseafa) who find a
way of breaking the cycle of junk food at his local drive in (on pushbike) and
orders salad only who teaches the rest of the group how to rap and Lucy (Hanae
Atkins) who lives with her dad (John Barrowman) and incorporates her kick
boxing skills into the dance moves.

It’s D-Day for the
‘garage’ and Gina puts her points across to the members of the council board
about why it is so important for it to remain open. Mid way into her speech raised voices can be
heard out in the hallway. A ruckus
breaks out between Kurt (Keiran Lai) and Ethan which seals the fate of the ‘Garage’.

Both Ethan and Jayden
also have a background which centres on the story. Jayden is a dancer but his parents want him
to focus on his education and try and crush his dreams by sending him to
another school, where dancing is definitely not on the curriculum.

Ethan looks up to his
dad, Andy (Kevin Bishop) a small time dealer in dodgy gear and knock off
chocolate, but is always let down by his lack of commitment.

The day of the talent
show and the centre is packed with men women and children, the stage is set,
and the acts are ready, the digger is outside waiting but where is Jayden?

It’s an upbeat,
entertaining, get up and dance, feel good movie that doesn’t dip once during
the entire film. When I first saw the
trailer, I have to admit that it was seeing Barrowman dance with a young girl
in a black and white clip that drew me to the film initially. What I can say is that Barrowman only plays a
small part in the film. The well played
black and white video clip of him dancing was awesome to watch but wasn’t my
favourite part of the film. He plays
Lucy’s Dad, who sits in an orange Tropical tee-shirt and a pair of shorts, or
boxers, is unshaven and gives the look of someone who has given up on
everything since his wife left. This to me is something of a role I want to see
John more in and I hope we do.

The film was released in
2013 and available on Netflix for me to view at Christmas. It was written by Paul Gerstenberger and
directed by Ben Gregor.